Frogless switch for railways.



C. H. KRAUSS.

FROGLESS SWITCH FOR RAILWAYS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 8, 1914.

Patented Mar. 23, 1915.

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- Charles fLlfitZl/SS oli 0 fi o THE NORRIS PETERS 60., PHOTO-LITHO..WASHINGTON. D. C.

0. H. KRAUSS PROGLESS SWITCH FOR RAILWAYS A'PPLIOATION FILED SEPT. 8,1914. 1,1 82,779. Patented Mar. 23, 1915.

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jgg'' THE NORRIS PETERS C0,, PHoTaLITHQ. WASHINGTON, D. c.

, CHARLES H. KRAUSS, or BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA, Assieivon r MORRISONraoennss SWITCH COMPANY, or BIRMINGHAM. AL BAM A CORPORATION or ALABAMA.

FROG-LESS SWITCH FOR RAILVVAYS.

- Specification of Letters Patent. Patented lflan 23,1915

Application filed September 8, 1814. Serial No. 860,820.

To all whom-it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES HJKmuss, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing at Birmingham, in the county of Jefferson and State ofAlabama, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in F roglessSwitches for Railways, of which the following is a specification. 4

My invention relates to an improvement in frogless switches for railwaysand has for its object to improve and perfect the track structure andmovable rail sections which take the placeof the frogs in present switchstructures.

The object of my present invention is to improve the fixed trackstructure by perfecting the manner of attachment to it of the convergingrails, and by simplifying, lightening and cheapening its constructionwithout sacrificing the strength requisite for the duty on it.

A further object of my invention is to provide the movable rail or frogpoint, which co-acts with the fixed track structure, with a rollerbearing which works against the track structure and serves to take thetrack expansion thrust and keep the movable from being jammed into thefrog point the fixed track structure which pocket of receives it.

A further object of my invention is to improve the manner of attachingthe throw red to the mo able frog point, this connection in myconstruction making it possible for me to dispense with the use ofholddowns or like means to prevent the movable frog point leaving thebearing plates or track structure over which it slides.

A further object of my invention is to provide a safety lock acting onthe throw rod and serving to lock the movable frog point in llne witheither track desired to prevent accidental displacement.

A further object of my present invention is to simplify and reduce thecost of forming the movable frog point from rails and to provide a noveland exceedingly strong means for connecting such frog point to theconverging ends of intermediate switch rails.

My invention further comprises'the details of construction andarrangement of parts which are hereinafter more particularly describedand claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,

which illustrate only the preferred embodiment of my invention, and inwhich:

Figure 1 is a plan view of'the fixed track structure, the movable frogpoint, and the operatingmechanism for the latter; Figs. 2, 3, 4;, .5 and6, are enlarged cross sections taken on the lines Ara-i, B B, CC, D D,and E E, of Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is a sectional view on the line F-F of'Fig.4. Fig. Sis a cross sectional view of the frogpointconnections to atrack rail taken on the line' GG of Fig 9. Fig. 9 is a verticalsectionalview taken on the line H-H of Fig. 8. Fig.1() isa sectionalview taken on the line JJ of Fig. 2 and showing the shape of theshoulders provided to fit against the rail web and the splice bar.

Similar reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout thedrawings.

.- As 'my present "nvention "relates to the.

structural details of the movable' frog point;

and the fixed track structure with which it cooperates, I have dispensedwith the illustration of the switch points, the outside'track l.

rails, and all but that part of the swit c lioperating' mechanism whichshifts the frog point, as allof such parts not illustrated may be of anystandardconstruction and form no part of my present invention. Themovable frog I point inits preferred embodiment is formed by twoangularly disposed rail sections 1 and 2 and an interposed wedge shapedfiller block 3. y The frog point, at its forward end, tapers to an acuteangleso that,

' when in either of itsoperating positions, it v will make a smooth lapoint with one orthe other of tread wallsl of the fixed track structure5. This structure is provided at its end adjacent to the frog pointwithan outwardly flaring pocket 6 which is formed by the treadwalls 4and the fiat base, of the structure on which the free'end of thefrogpoint restsand slides thereover to engage frog point and theirinterposed filler block are rigidly connected by a series of trans:

either tread wall t. The railsforming the The fillerbloc k S-is shapedto fit between the rails 1. and2, while the wide rear end of the blockis tapered to present a gradually rising surface 9 which serves asaneaser. block for worn wheel treads. 5 The frog point is connected toconverging switch rails :1 and 2 which aline respectively with the Vfrog rails l and 2. In order to secure an extremely strong connectionbetween the meeting ends of the frog point rails and the rails l and 2and yet to allow the frog point to shift freely to its differentoperating positions, I provide at each oint two fish plates 10 whichhave suitable bolt openings therein. In the webs of the rail ends 1 and2 I provide horizontally elongated slots 11. Bolts 1?. connect the fishplates and pass through the web of the rails 1 and 2* andthrough the endslots 11 in the frog rails l and 2. In the inner slot 11 of each frograil however I insert a sleeve 13, the ends of which project beyond theweb of the frog rail and, being of larger diameter than bolt holes inthe fish plates, they will positively engage and hold apart the innerends of each pair of fish plates suf iciently to permit the free angularplay between them of the frog point. A bolt 14 is passed through eachpair of the fish plates and the interposed spreader sleeve of each railjoint and a tapered washer 15 is slipped over the threaded end of eachbolt so as to provide a fiat surface against which a nut can be screwedhome to joint the fish plates tightly against the sleeve but withouthowever rigidly clamping the web of either frog rail 'end between them.In other words, the fish plates are rigidly bolted together and yetleave the ends of the frog rail free to shift and move angularly betweenthem so as to permit the V-shaped frog point. to assume its differentoperating positions.

I attach slide plates 15 on the cross ties 16 to support the movablefrog point, the pointed end of which works in the pocket 6 of the fixedstructure 5. The pointed end of the frog point is formed by tapering andfitting together the ends of the rails 1 and 2, the side edges of thetread and base of the frog point rails as indicated in Fig. 5, beingsquared off in the tapering so they will fit squarely against thesquared inner side edges of the treads l of the track structure, whichtreads are formed by overhanging flanges integral with the structure 5.In order to prevent the switch point being jammed into the pocket by theexpansion of the track rails I bolt to the under side of the movablefrog a plate 17 (see Figs. 4 and 7) which is provided in its edgeadjacent to the track structure 5 with a curved recess l8 struck on anare having a radius which extends beyond the forward end of the plate. Acircular opening is provided at the center of this recess which receivesthe stud 19 of an antifriction roller 20, the outer periphery of whichroller projects, beyond the front edge of plate 17 and is adapted toengage and bear against the rear end wall 21 of the track structure 5.In this manner the roller 20 will serve as an antifriction bearingbetween the frog point and the track structure which will receive anyend thrust and prevent the jamming of the frog point in the pocket ofthe track structure.

The base of the pocket 6, beneath the end of the frog point, is providedwith a transverse slot 22 and I bolt to the sides of the web of the frogpoint, the base flanges of which have been sheared away as shown in Fig.5, a pair of oppositely facing angle bars 23, which bars extend belowthe frog point and through slot-22 and engage the wide base of thestructure 5. These plates are riveted to a throw rod 24: and extend farenough on each side to remain always in contact with the base of thestructure 5 in all operating positions of the frog point. The throw rod24. is pivotally connected by a link 25 with a bell crank lever 26 whichis pivoted between ears 27 mounted on the end of an angle plate 28 thatis bolted to the end of a cross tie. A rod 29 connects the bell cranklever 26 to a similar lever 30 which in turn is connected by a rod 31and link 82 to the throw mechanism for the switch points (not shown).Metal straps 33 serve as guides for the rod 29 and support it below thetop level of the cross ties to afford it better protection.

The angle bars 23 and throw rod 24 have registering openings 34 thereinadapted to receive a lock pin 35, the holes being so positioned that thepin, when inserted in one or the other of them and in engagement withside edge of the base of the track structure, will hold the frog pointlocked against the adjacent tread l. The track structure itself isspecially designed for lightness and strength and is thereforepreferably made as a hollow casting of manganese steel or like hard anddurable metal. As shown in Fig. 5 the treads 42, with which the frogpoint makes lap joint, are formed by overhanging flanges which at theirouter ends 36 are beveled downwardly to avoid the possibility of theirengaging any loose parts hanging under the trains, thereby causing thedisplacement of or damage to the track structure. Also the end of thefrog point is beveled or slightly depressed below the tread level of hetreads 4 to pre vent the wheels hammering it. The structure has avertical curved web 37 forming the inner end wall of the pocket 6 andtermina ing in the web 38 shown at the bottom of the flange groove orthroat 39, Fig. The end of the track structure that connects with thetrack rails 1 and 2" which form a continuation of the rails 1 and 2*,respectively, is especially designed for furnishing a strong andeffective joint. To this end, as shown in Fig. 2, the tread faces i areshown diverging and each is provided with an integral shoulder 40 whichextends along its inner side from the adjacent end wall 37 of the throatto the outer end of the tread and conformsin cross section to the sideof a rail. Above the shoulders lOH-at the outer end of the treads 4 anotch-out is provided toreceive the tread of the rail 1 or 2 which makea lap joint with the alining tread a.

These notcheouts leave an offset portion exare cast with sockets 41 inline with side openings for bolts 42 which are passed through theshoulder and abutting rail web and through an inner fish plate 43, tyingall parts rigidly to the track structure. The inner face of theshoulders 40 are reduced thethickness of the rail we'b Where they areoverlapped by the web so that th e wall of the latter that engages thefish plate will stand flush with the inner face of the shoulder whichalso engages the 'fish plate; This affords an exceedingly strong andeflective joint in which the rail and track structure are tied againststrain'in every direction, it being noted that the fish plates extendbeyond the rail ends to the wall 38 and that a largenumber of bolts areused to connect them to the track structure. Theouter ends of the treads4 are beveled at 36 as in the case of the treads 4: and the inner endsof thefrails 1 and 2 are also slightly beveled. The track structure isprovided with a base flange by means of which it is spiked to the crossties.

The angle bars 23 and the throw rod at being connected to the switchpoint above the track structure, and being in slidable engagement withthe wide base of the track structure, serveto effectively hold the frogpoint against vertical displacement with reference to the trackstructure and to slide plates 15 and therefore enables 'me to dispensewith hold-downs or like attachments which have heretofore beenrequiredfor movable frog points and at the same time I avoid any necessity forlongitudinally slotting the track structure at the side to connect thethrow rod to the frog point. This arrangement leaves the throw rod freeto swing in following the arcuate travel of the frog point.

In operation, as thetrack switches are thrown to the main or the siding,the operating connections shown will swing the frog point so as to bringit into alinement with one or the other of the treads 4 as to establisha continuous rail line for the wheels where they cross the pr jegt dshoulders of the notch-outs are' tersectionof tracks 2?, 2 and l Theconnection shown for the rear ends of the frog point leaves it free toswing without there being any flexing of the metal or risk of breakageat the joints with the rails 1*- and 2 and the antifriction rollers 20avoids the possibility of the frog pointrbeing jammed and locked in thesocket of the track structure. The offset tread portions of the treadsat? which are interposed be-- tween the rails 1 and 2 and the frogpoint,

give a continuous rail and the connections of the said rails, and thefrog point to the track structure are such as to prevent any possibilityof the mechanism not presenting to the wheels an .evencontinuousjtread'with the inner edges of its sections in alinement.

Having thus described my invention, what I claimias new and desire tosecure by Let ters Patent, is; i a 7 l. In a frogless switch, thecombination of afrog point having divergent rail treads, meansto connectsaid treads to track rails, a track structure with which said movablefrog pointco-acts and which has divergent treads connected to trackrails, and an anti-, friction bearing interposed between the frog pointand the track structure, as and forthe purposes described. a

2. The combination with a track structure having divergent rail treads,of a movable frog point having its free end supported on' saidstructure, tread surfaces. on said structure with which said frog pointis adapted to make a lapfjoint, a roller bearing connected to theunderside ofthe movable frog point, and a transverse bearing face on thetrack structure which said roller bearing engages, substantially asdescribed.

' 3. In a frogless switch mechanism, a track structure having at eachside divergent treads, track rails connected to said treads at one end,a movable frog pointadapted to make a lap joint with one or the otherof, the treads at the other end of the structure, said treads at thelatter end of the structure forming a pocket which receives the frogpoint, a bearing connected to the underface of the .frog point, a rollermounted in said bearing, and a transverse vertical end wall of the trackstructure which is adapted to form a track for the roller and preventthe frog pointjamming stantially as described.

4. A track structure comprising an in-- tegral casting havingidivergenttreadswhich in said pocket, sub- 7 are continuous from end to end of thecast ing, a base connecting the divergent treads at one end and formingwith them a pocket,

a tapering frog point having its free end supported on said base andadapted to make a lap oint with'one or the other of the side treads ofsaid pocket, a transverse slot in.

brackets mounted on the throw rod and adapted to slidingly engage thebase of the track structure and arms of the brackets which projectupwardly through said slot on each side of the frog point, and crossbolts to rigidly attach said bracket arms to the frog point,substantially as described.

5. In a track structure having divergent tread members at one end, apocket for receiving a movable frog point, said pocket having sidetreads, which form continuations or" said divergent treads, and atransversely slotted base, one or more brackets having vertical armsconnected to the side of the frog point and extending down through theslot in said base, and a throw rod connected to the horizontal memberso1 said bracket or brackets which are held in sliding engagement withthe under wall or" the track structure to take the friction wear andhold down the frog point in sliding engagement with the pocket base,substantially as described.

6. A track structure for a trogless switch mechanism comprising anintegral casting having along each side a tread, which treads convergefrom each end of the structure toward a center or throat portionthereof, the treads at one end having between them a base and beingadapted to receive and form a lap-joint with a movable switch point, andthe treads at the other ends of the structure having inside shouldersfor interfitting with the side groove of a rail, the throat or centralportion of the structure having walls facing toward each end 01" thestructure and connected at their tops by a horizontal integral wallraised above the level of the base which receives the frog point,substantially as described.

7. A track structure for frogless switch mechanism comprising anintegral casting having at one end relatively narrow divergent treadwalls i and at the other end the wider tread walls r, both wallsconverging toward the center or threat of the structure, the latterwalls being notched out along their inner side edges at the outer endsof their treads'and having inwardly disposed shoulders along their innerside walls which conform in side contour to the shape of a side of atrack rail and extend below and beyond said notches to points adjacentto the throat of the structure, track rails which lit against and oversaid shoulders with their tread ends abutting the inner ends of saidnotches, inside splice bars which lap the joint between the track railsand said shoulders on the treads 4 and means to bolt said splice barsand rails to the track structure, substantially as described.

8. A track structure for a frogless switch mechanism comprising a hollowcasting formed with a base flange and having at one end divergent treads4 with notch-outs to receive the treads of track rails and form abutt-joint therewith, a pocket formed at the other end of the trackstructure and comprising a base, and narrow marginal tread walls 4;formed by overhanging flanges ot the track structure, said structurehaving an intermediate raised throat 38 connecting the treads l the baseof the throat being raised above the base of the pocket and beingconnected to the base of the pocket by a vertical web, substantially asdescribed.

9. In a frogless switch, two converging track rails, a movable frogpoint with which said rails connect, other converging track rails, afrog structure with which said latter rails connect and which comprisesa pair of tread walls which converge from each tend toward the center orthroat of the struc ture, the tread walls at one end being adaptedrtoreceive between them the frog point and the tread walls at the other endbeing wider than the track rail treads and provided with notch outsextending inward a substantial distance from the end of the tread walland adapted to receive the rail treads which abut against the inner endwall of the notch out, and means to move said point to make a lap jointwith one or the other of the adjacent tread walls, said notch outsleaving an offset portion of each wall which projects between the frogpoint and the alining track rail attached to said structure to formcontinuous tread for the wheel in passing from rail to rail over thefrog point in either direction.

10. In a track structure for a frogless switch,an integral castinghaving along its sides tread walls which converge from the ends toward acontracted threat at the center, the treads at oneend having a greaterwidth than the track rail treads and being notched out along their inneredges corresponding to the width of the track rail treads, reinforcingshoulders which extend along the inner walls of said side walls from theends where the treads are notched to points adjacent to the throat ofthe structure, which shoulders below the notches are reduced thethickness of the rail web, said shoulders conforming to the side of therail, a fish plate which laps the oint between the rail web and saidshoulder, and bolts which pass through the shoulder and attach both endsof the fish plate to said structure, sub stantially as described.

11. In a track structure, a pocket at one end adapted to receive amovable frog point, and integral divergent walls at the other end whichwalls form treads wider than the rail treads, said wall treads beingnotched out at the inner side of their outer ends to make a lap and buttjoint with rail end and a shoulder, on a wall of said structure,

which projects laterally sufiiciently to en gage the Web of a track railand extends lengthwise in bothdirections from the inner end of thenotches, a fish plate which laps the joint between the track rail andWeb connecting the treads near their center, a

and disposed substantially below the surfaces of the treads, andshoulders, below the treads adapted to be jointed to fixed track rails,which shoulders conform to the side of the fixed track rails and areofi'set laterally at an intermediate point to make a butt joint with-thewebs of the said fixed rails.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

CHARLES H. KRAUSS.

WVitnesses:

NOMI'E WELSH, Rona. LEE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, I). 0.

